George Lucas may share art collection

Updated 2:23 pm, Saturday, July 20, 2013

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You all know George Lucas as the creator of "Star Wars," "Indiana Jones" and other blockbusters. But did you know he also has one of the biggest collections of American art, including more Norman Rockwells than you could ever imagine?

I didn't either, until he called me the other day and invited me out to Skywalker Ranch in Marin County for lunch.

Lucas heard that I was interested in his idea of opening a museum of his art in the Presidio and wanted to talk about it.

What a spread. From a distance you can't even tell there are buildings on Skywalker Ranch, they're blended in so carefully with the surroundings. And when you finally round the bend to see the main structures, they look like something out of "Gone With the Wind."

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It's even more impressive inside. Lucas has what amounts to a museum of Hollywood, mixed with the kind of art you don't need a curator to explain.

Think the Empire meets Middle America.

Not only is Lucas ready to share it all with the public, but he's also willing to put $300 million into building the museum at the old Presidio Commissary - now a Sports Basement - and throw in an additional $400 million to run it.

Leonard detailed his own abuse by a coach when he was 14. He said it took him almost 30 years to acknowledge the trauma that ultimately caused him to excessively drink and burn through two marriages. He emphasized how important it is for kids to tell it - and tell somebody.

The biggest surprise came during the live auction, when Leonard got up and slipped a note to the auctioneer. In addition to the pair of signed boxing gloves he'd already donated, was the added bonus of a private dinner at his house in Los Angeles.

Partners in Prevention founder Patty Shimek was the high bidder - $32,000.

In all, nearly half a million dollars was raised.

The port threw a 150th birthday bash for itself the other day, and the place sure is growing old gracefully.

From the Ferry Building to Fisherman's Wharf, the covered piers that once held tons of cargo are packed with a cruise-ship terminal, new attractions like the Exploratorium, and hip eateries like Plant, Hard Water and Michael Chiarello's new Coqueta.

South of the Bay Bridge, you have AT&T Park, Mission Bay, and a string of warehouses all the way down to Hunters Point serving as homes for artists.

This bohemian flavor won't last, given plans for a basketball arena and the ever-escalating interest in waterfront property.

Broadcast legend Belva Davis acted as emcee, a good but hardly surprising pick considering that her daughter, Darolyn, organized the event.

Now I know why the Gold Dust Lounge finally agreed, after a long fight with its landlord, to move out of its downtown spot on Powell Street.

The new space on Fisherman's Wharf is off the charts - it's much better than the little space near Union Square. With the flocked walls, brass fixtures and the like, it resembles something out of Virginia City.

Movie time: Tom Cruise's new one, "Oblivion." That's where you'll wish you were if you sit through this collection of rehashed plots, bad special effects and cardboard characters.

I was lunching with a banker from Chicago at Hotel Vitale when he asked me, "How long were you mayor?"

"Eight years. Two terms, then I was termed out."

"You know, we have term limits back in Illinois as well," he said. "You serve one term for governor, then you serve one term in jail."

I guess in that state, you go from a Brioni or Kiton to an orange jumpsuit.

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